Sansano first worked with NDCWales in 2011, when he created Quixoteland, which toured throughout Wales and internationally. Originally from San Fulgenico in Spain, he is an artist and choreographer who has created works for companies including Spain’s Compañía Nacional de Danza, Nederlands Dans Theater, Hamburg Ballet, Gyori Ballet, IT Dansa, Norddans, BalletMet Columbus, Ballet Hispanico and Ballet BC. He directed Chicago’s Luna Negra Dance Theatre from 2010 to 2013.

Paul Kaynes joins NDCWales from Birmingham Hippodrome, where he was director of creative programmes from 2013. He also worked on the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, and comes to Wales after 25 years of working in the arts in the Midlands.

Company chairman Andrew Davies said: “I am delighted to have appointed two such excellent leaders of the company in Gustavo and Paul. They bring a shared vision and ambition as well as great track records to their new roles. I am confident that under their joint leadership, NDCWales will become a signature company creating work of excellence, and a national company Wales can be proud of.”

Paul Kaynes will take up the chief executive position at NDCWales in February 2015. Gustavo Ramírez Sansano will start his artistic directorship in June 2015, but will spend time with the company on a regular basis from the end of January 2015.

Zoë was born in Edinburgh, and saw her first dance performances at the Festival there. She is the dance critic of The Independent, and has also written for The Independent on Sunday, The Scotsman and Dancing Times. In 2002, she received her doctorate from the University of York for a thesis on “Nationhood and epic romance: Ariosto, Sidney, Spenser”. She is the author of The Royal Ballet: 75 Years and The Ballet Lover’s Companion.